On 3/04/2026 at about 1725 hours, MR contacted Minneapolis Police and reported that his 2019 red Honda Fit (MN/ELA829) had been stolen overnight. The value of the vehicle exceeded $5,000. On 03/05/2026 at about 0100 hours, St. Paul Police spotted the stolen Honda driving west on Wheelock Ave in St. Paul, Ramsey County. The Honda was displaying MN license plate [PLATE REDACTED] on the front and MN license plate [PLATE REDACTED] on the rear. Auto thieves commonly switch license plates in order to thwart law enforcement efforts to identify it.
When the Honda turned into a parking lot at [ADDRESS REDACTED], the officer initiated a traffic stop. Both the driver and passenger were removed from the vehicle. The driver was identified as Angelina Maria MIRANDA (DOB/197 4-08-07) and the passenger was identified as Andrea Rose FRANCO (DOB/1989- 03-23). A check of the vehicle’s VIN confirmed it was stolen. MIRANDA’s driver’s license was found to be revoked. The license plate displayed on the rear (DWJ948) did not belong to the vehicle; it registered to a different red 2019 Honda Fit.
When switching license plates, auto thieves commonly use plates from similar vehicles to further thwart law enforcement. On the floorboard of the front passenger seat, police saw 1) the second license plate (ELA829) from the stolen vehicle, 2) license plate [PLATE REDACTED], which registered to a red 2010 Honda Insight, 3) a yellow Dewalt drill with a Phillips head tip, 4) a ratchet and socket, and 5) several license plate screws. All of the tools are commonly used by auto thieves when disguising stolen vehicles.
In the rear passenger seat police saw a small sledgehammer and a kit of sockets for the ratchet in the front. In the trunk, police found a black backpack and a pair of latex gloves. In the backpack, police found a Ford key fob, multiple screw drivers, drill bits, a small container of license plate screws, and a container of self-drilling screws. After being Mirandized, MIRANDA said that her friend “Jessica” gave her the Honda about 30 minutes before the traffic stop so she could give her friend a ride.
MIRANDA did not provide any more information about “Jessica” and could not provide an address where she picked up the Honda. MIRANDA said that when she picked up the Honda it was already running with the keys inside. In a post-Miranda statement, FRANCO said she was at a residence near Cook Ave and Arcade St and MIRANDA picked her up there driving the Honda. When FRANCO was asked about the burglary tools that were on the floorboard where she was sitting, FRANCO said didn't notice any tools.
